Sewage Floods Steinbrenner Field, Alters Yankees' Practice Plans

Drainage issues at the team's spring training facility forced the Yankees to hold workouts at a different location.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 8:49pm

Pungent sewage flooded parts of George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, forcing the New York Yankees to hold their pregame workouts at their Himes player development complex before hosting the New York Mets for an exhibition game on Sunday. The drainage issues that caused the flooding were quickly addressed, allowing the game to be played as scheduled.

Why it matters

Spring training facilities are critical for MLB teams to prepare their players for the upcoming season, so any disruptions to normal operations can significantly impact a team's preparations. The sewage issue at Steinbrenner Field highlights the importance of maintaining the infrastructure at these facilities to avoid unexpected challenges.

The details

The drainage issues that flooded parts of Steinbrenner Field on Saturday required the Yankees to hold their pregame workouts at a different facility on Sunday morning. However, the team was able to get the field cleaned up and sanitized in time for the exhibition game against the Mets to be played as scheduled.

  • On Saturday, drainage issues flooded parts of Steinbrenner Field.
  • On Sunday morning, the Yankees held their pregame workouts at their Himes player development complex.
  • On Sunday, the Yankees hosted the Mets for an exhibition game at Steinbrenner Field.

The players

New York Yankees

A Major League Baseball team based in the Bronx, New York.

New York Mets

A Major League Baseball team based in Queens, New York.

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The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining the infrastructure at spring training facilities to ensure teams can properly prepare for the upcoming season without unexpected disruptions.